Coffin-support.



No. 659,751. Patented Oct. l6, I900.

F. E. MESSLER.

CUFFIN SUPPORT. (Application filed 1 m 15, 1900..

(No Model.)

llllllllllllllllmllllll Ilsrrnn ATENT OFFICE- FRED E. MESSLER, OF CANTON, ILLINOIS.

COFFlN-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,751, dated October 16, 1900.

Application filed March 15, 1900. Serial No. 8,809. (No model.)

To ail whont it may concern;

Be it known that I, FRED E. MESSLER,aGltizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Fulton and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Grave-Sticks or Collin-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto improvements in grave-sticks or coffin-supports, such as are used by undertakers to maintain a coflin or casket above a grave prior to depositing the same therein.

The object is to provide grave-sticks or coffin -supports of such construction that when the same are not in use they may be folded to occupy but little space and when extended for use will be rigid and of a length to place across the grave and extend on one side of the same sufficiently to permit the pail-bearers to deposit the coffin on the sticks.

The invention consists in the construction of grave-sticks or coffin-supports, each stick being made in two sections hinged together, so that. when extended the adjacent ends will abut to provide a rigid bar, said bar having on its upper side rollers and stops for holding the coffin in place, as will be hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing a pair of grave-sticks or coffin-supports in place for use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the bar folded for transportation, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the construction of a bearing for a roller.

Each one of the bars or grave-sticks A is made up of two sections or parts a a,one of the sections a being of greater length than the other, the sections being of corresponding dimensions at the meeting ends, where they are connected by a hinge b. The adjacent ends of the sections in order to provide a rigid joint when in alinement are shaped so that one end will be concave and the other end convex, the pintle of the hinge being on a line with the under side of the sections and the side plates ofthe hinges being preferably attached to the sides of the bars. The sections a a taper from their abutting ends toward the opposite ends and on the under side may have attachedcorrugated plates of rubber or metal, which will prevent the sticks slipping whenin use. The sticks are preferably made of hard wood, though metal may be used without departing 'from my invention.

In the upper sides of the sticks are formed recesses d of a size to receive the major porprojects considerably above the plane of the rollers, and near the hinge to the other section Ct of the stick is secured a spring-catch h, one end of which is made fast in any suitable manner, while the other end projects upward and is provided with a beveled edge, so that the same will engage with the bottom of the coffin or casket and prevent movement of the same in one direction. The casket will slide over this spring-catch when moved in the direction of the fixed stop g.

In useapair of similarly-constructed sticks are placed parallel with each other over the grave, and when so placed the longer member or section a will extend a sufficient distance to one side of the grave to permit the pall-bearers to deposit the coflin upon the sticks, after which the coffin may be slid over the grave. In moving the coffin toward the fixed stop the spring-catch will yield and then spring up and engage the coffin, so as to hold the same against movement in one direction, and these spring stops or catches are very effective, especially when it is necessary to place the sticks at an incline, as on a hillside. When the coffin is raised preparatory to lowering, the sticks may be moved to one side, and when the shorter ends pass beyond the side of the grave they may swing to a vertical position therein or said sticks may be wholly removed.

The device herein described may be modinected by a hinge so that when the sections a are in alinement the adjacent ends will abut,

rollers journaledin said bars to project beyond one side of the sections, a rigid stop attached adjacent to the end of one of the sections and a spring-catch attached to the other section, substantially as shown.

2. In a device of the character described, a bar or support made up of two sections, one section being longer than the other, the shorter section having attached thereto a projecting portion or stop, a plurality of rollers, journaled to project beyond the face of the sections of the bar, and a spring-catch, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, a bar made up of two sections which are hinged to each other so that the ends will abut when the sections are in alinement, a seriesof projecting rollers j ournaled in the sections, plates attached to the bar to retain the rollers in place, a stop or projection on one of the sections and a depressible spring-catch on the other section, substantially as shown.

4. In a device of the character described, a bar or grave-stick made up of two sections which are hinged together in such a manner that they will be rigid when brought in alinement, antislipping devices on the under side 1 of the ends of the sections, rollers and stops I attached to the upper sides of the sections so as to project above the plane thereof, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED E. MESSLER.

Witnesses:

W. T. DAVIs, J. W. POPER. 

